SYDNEY: Former Armenian Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Ara Papian was part of a six-person AYF Australia panel discussion entitled 'Armenia-Turkey Protocols & The Aftermath', held at the Stamford Grand North Ryde Hotel on Wednesday evening.
Professor Papian was joined by Mr. Varant Meguerditchian (President of ANC Australia), Mr. Sassoon Grigorian (Former Senior Advisor to the Premier of NSW), Mr. Khajaque Kortian (Former Board Member of ANC Australia and practicing lawyer), Mr. Hratch Loussikian (Representative of the ARF) and Mr. Kevork-Sarhad Tufenkjian (Chairperson of AYF Australia).
Panellists took questions from the 150-strong audience and a selection of over 100 pre-sent web questions covering all components of the Protocols, including why they came about at this juncture in Armenia's history, the legal legitimacy of the Protocols, what they mean for Armenia, the dramas of the signing ceremony and the aftermath.
Panel mediator and ANC Australia Communications Officer, Haig Kayserian commented: "It was interesting that many in the audience wanted to know what comes next, and how are these Protocols going to affect Armenia and Armenians around the world?
"We were blessed with very intelligent and eloquent panellists, who were all well-versed and well-researched on the topic. I think all panellists will agree that none were as versed as His Excellency Papian, who provided much insight to those in attendance."
The panel reached consensus on several key talking points, including that:
- the wording of the Protocols are vague and drafted by larger powers with larger interests (e.g. gas);
- Armenia has most to lose from the Protocols if ratified in its current form;
- the open-ended wording of the Protocols does present Armenia with an opportunity to bring issues of benefit to the table, however the Sargsyan Administration is outnumbered, out-resources and diplomatically fails to inspire;
- the diaspora is painted into a corner. If they publically speak against the Protocols, they risk looking anti-Armenia, while support of the Protocols has potentially fatal ramifications for the Armenian cause;
- although each government has the numbers in their respective parliaments, politics in these countries are not always as simple, with key issues like the definition of borders for Armenia, and Azerbaijan for Turkey, are likely to play a part in the verification process; and
- the fight for recognition of the Armenian Genocide by international authorities has been made more difficult due to the facade that the two governments are in 'positive dialogue'.
On the last point, Mr. Meguerditchian expressed that on ANC Australia's recent Advocacy Week trip to Canberra, the Protocols were constantly brought up by Members of Parliament and Senators.
He also revealed that the Member for Bennelong, the Hon. Maxine McKew MP, spoke in Parliament in support of the Protocols and the historical commission proposed to study "the tragedy and misery faced by millions of Armenians and others".
Mr. Meguerditchian said: "We have met with and written to Ms McKew, and have let her know that her comments and failure to call 1915 a Genocide fall well short of her 2007 Election pledge to 'unequivocally and publically advocate for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Federal Government of Australia'."
He added: "We encourage Ms McKew to get back in touch with the interests and emotions of her Armenian constituents."
